This National Adoption Week (20–26 October), Adoption Cumbria is proudly supporting the national You Can Adopt campaign, which is challenging the myths and misconceptions that prevent people from coming forward to adopt.
A new survey by You Can Adopt reveals that nearly nine in ten adoptive parents surveyed (86%) were worried they needed a “perfect home” to pass the adoption assessment process.
However, the reality is far simpler – with just over two fifths (41%) of adoptive parents surveyed living in a house with two bedrooms or less, two thirds (65%) not having a garden, and a quarter (25%) living in rented accommodation.
During this important awareness week, Adoption Cumbria wants to make it clear that children who need to be adopted don’t need perfection – they need a “welcome home.”
Morgan and Derry, adoptive fathers to their young son, shared their story to show what family life after adoption can look like: “One of our first memories was going blackberry picking with our son. We were staying in a hotel at the time but were desperate to give him the jam he had asked for, so we bought a jar and labelled it ‘Daddy’s Jam’ – just something small to make him smile. Now, we’ve made our own several times, enough to feed all the neighbours. It’s become a sweet little tradition, and a reminder that love isn’t about grand gestures – it’s about showing up, creating joy in the everyday, and building something lasting together. That jar of jam was the beginning of our story, and every spoonful since has been a celebration of how far we’ve come on our adoption journey.”
Insights from adoption agencies across the country show that the cost-of-living crisis has contributed to a decline in the number of people coming forward to adopt – with new data showing a 12% drop in prospective adopter registrations compared to last year.
As a result, more children are now facing delays of over 18 months before being matched with a family – an increase from the previous year. On average, it now takes 292 days from the moment a child is approved for adoption to when they are placed with a family – 11 days longer than last year.
Currently, in the North West, there are 293 more children waiting than there are adopters available, highlighting the urgent need for more people to consider adoption.
Adoption Cumbria is the newly refreshed Regional Adoption Agency for Cumberland and Westmorland & Furness councils. Operating across the whole of Cumbria – and beyond – the agency welcomes people who are interested in adopting a child, or brothers and sisters together.
Vicky Davidson Boyd, Service Manager at Adoption Cumbria, said: “National Adoption Week is a celebration of real families – the laughter, the challenges, the love, and the imperfections that make them unique. There’s no such thing as the perfect adopter or the perfect home – what matters is the care and commitment you can offer a child. Every child deserves a safe and loving place to grow, and we’re here to help make that happen.”
Find out more at our online event
To mark the week, Adoption Cumbria is hosting a special online information event on Tuesday 28 October at 6pm, open to anyone curious about adoption.
You can book a free place here.
It’s a relaxed, no-pressure opportunity to meet the team, hear real stories from adopters, and ask the questions that matter to you.
Adoption Cumbria has been rated nationally as one of the most friendly regional adoption services for people making their first enquiry.
The team provides extensive training and lifelong support for adopters — from preparation courses and peer networks to therapeutic guidance and post-adoption advice.
To be eligible, prospective adopters need to be over 21, live in the UK, and have the time and emotional capacity to care for a child.
There’s no “perfect” home or “ideal” background — just people with love to give and space to share. So this National Adoption Week, take a moment to imagine what it might mean to open your door and say: “Welcome home.”
To learn more, visit adoptioncumbria.org.uk